Debate: The New Deal

From Debatepedia

Was the American New Deal under Franklin Roosevelt a good idea?

Background and context

Arguments

Pro

New Deal created historic public works and infrastructure.Michael Hiltzik. "What the new deal accomplished." Slate. Oct 13th, 2011: "The New Deal physically reshaped the country. To this day, Americans still rely on its works for transportation, electricity, flood control, housing, and community amenities. The output of one agency alone, the Works Progress Administration, represents a magnificent bequest to later generations. The WPA produced, among many other projects, 1,000 miles of new and rebuilt airport runways, 651,000 miles of highway, 124,000 bridges, 8,000 parks, and 18,000 playgrounds and athletic fields; some 84,000 miles of drainage pipes, 69,000 highway light standards, and 125,000 public buildings built, rebuilt, or expanded. Among the latter were 41,300 schools."